Carers Advocacy

 

Who might need this: anyone over 18 providing unpaid help and support to a loved one due to illness or disability.

 

Our Carers Advocates help carers to be more involved and have their voices heard in decisions that affect them.

 

Carers Advocacy is not a statutory service. This means that in different areas, there will be different criteria for being able to have support from an advocate.

 

How carers advocates can help

 

• Helping carers to understand their rights and how to exercise them
• Supporting carers to access a Carers Assessment
• Supporting carers to communicate their own needs to people making decisions
• Attending meetings with carers
• Making a social care complaint
• Helping carers to find other services that might be able to help them (signposting)

 

Who can make a referral?

 

• The person who needs support
• A friend, family member or carer (with the person’s permission)
• The local authority (with the person’s permission)
• The NHS (with the person’s permission)
• Other organisations or charities ((with the person’s permission)